After 40 years of service to the Bulloch County Magistrate Court, Judge June Bradley Braswell, Bulloch County's Chief Magistrate, has announced her retirement effective on September 30, 2023. Since her full term expires in 2024, Bulloch County Chief Superior Court Judge Gates Peed is required to appoint a replacement for Judge Bradley to fill her remaining term.
"It has been an honor to serve the citizens of Bulloch County," Judge June Braswell said in making the announcement. "Bulloch County has always been my home, and the opportunity to interact with and assist so many of her citizens has been one of the great joys of my life."
The Creation of Magistrate Court
Before the Magistrate Court was created, many of the duties of that office were handled by the Justice of the Peace and Small Claims Court under Judge Carroll Blankenship. Judge Blankenship was ready to retire and only served through the creation and transition to the Magistrate Court and the appointment of Chief Magistrate Judge Billy Joe Deal.
Judge Blankenship hired Judge Braswell as a clerk. The Magistrate Court was created by an act of the Georgia Legislature on July 1, 1983. On that date, Braswell was appointed Magistrate Court Clerk.
On July 1, 1993, she was appointed Deputy Magistrate after having served the Court for 10 years in an administrative role. In January 2000, Braswell was appointed to fill the unexpired term of former Chief Magistrate Billy Joe Deal following his sudden death. In November of that year, Braswell was elected to her first term and has been reelected to six consecutive terms.
Over the past four decades, Judge Braswell has seen the Magistrate office grow in facilities, staff, and case load. The Magistrate Court is located in the former Bulloch County Sheriff's office and Jail at 101 Oak Street in downtown Statesboro.
When the Court moved into the old jail over three decades ago, they only used a third of the building. In fact, the small courtroom was in the Chief Magistrate's office where they held court weekly. They now consume the entire building and have a courtroom. They have a staff of 14, including two full-time Constables, and they hold court four days a week.
Judge Braswell has overseen the modernization of the office with computer records and the ability to handle much of operations of the court online, with an operating budget nearing $1 million annually.
She has also seen the a shift in the case load from smaller cases involving primarily small businesses to a majority of the cases involving delinquency of credit card and medical debt, along with civil disputes.
Even though for counties our size it is not a requirement that the Magistrate Judge has a law degree, there is a substantial amount of training involved to become a Magistrate Judge and maintain your Judgeship.
Difficult decision
Judge Braswell has grown up career-wise in the Magistrate's office. Her staff are like family to her; in fact, she has spent more time with them than she has with her own family. They have helped pull her through deep valleys in her life, namely in the loss of her son and later the loss of her husband. But at 71, she knows it is time.
Most of all, she is looking forward to spending time with her family including her children, grandchildren, and sisters.
"The first thing I am going to do is catch up on my sleep and do some things I just didn't have the time to do around the house," said Judge Braswell. "Then I plan to travel with my sisters Linda Sammons Harris and Sue Mock -- or as I refer to them, the 'Golden Girls.'"
Having a great team in place including Chief Deputy Magistrate Karen Riggs Jones makes her decision much easier.
"I am retiring with confidence that the staff of the Magistrate Court will continue to offer the citizens of Bulloch County prompt, efficient, and professional service. Chief Deputy Magistrate Karen Riggs Jones and the rest of the staff are well-trained and conscientious public servants," Braswell shared. "Judge Jones has been with the Court for 35 years, exhibiting the highest ethical behavior and performing her duties with fairness and impartiality."
We at Grice Connect thank Judge Braswell for her incredible commitment to the citizens of our community over the past four decades and wish her the best in her well deserved retirement.